South West Schools and Colleges

 

The South West has a total of 2,225 schools, including:
  • 300 Secondary maintained
  • 1788 Primary maintained
  • 41 Further Education colleges
  • 96 Special schools
There are 16 Local Authorities across the South West:
  • 4 in Bristol and Bath
  • 3 in Dorset, Bournemouth & Poole
  • 4 in Devon and Cornwall (inc Isles of Scilly)
  • 2  in Swindon and Wiltshire
  • 1 in Somerset
  • 1 in Gloucestershire
There are significant numbers of ‘rural’ schools (approx 23% secondary schools in ‘isolated hamlets’), and there are particular issues for reaching certain parts of the region which can present particular challenges in terms of engagement with STEM activities, employers and access to teacher CPD.There are comprehensive schools in:
  • Somerset, the former area of Avon
  • Swindon
  • Cornwall
There are selective schools in the remainder of the counties as follows:
  • 6 in Gloucestershire
  • 2 in Wiltshire
  • 2 in Poole
  • 2 in Bournemouth
  • 1 in Devon
  • 2 in Plymouth
  • 3 in Torbay
Overall performance of young people at GCSE level in the Region is slightly above the national average. 
 
The South West region has 13 HEIs – many with strong reputations in STEM subjects.
 
The number of applications for STEM subject places in South West HEIs has risen by over 20% between 2002 and 2007, higher than the 17% increase in the total number of HE applications over the same period.However some sciences having seen falling numbers of applications, particularly in Mathematical & Computer Sciences, where applications are down by almost 20%.
 
The total number of first year STEM students at HEIs in the region has increased by just 2.2% since 2002/03, slower than the national rate of growth of 8.3%.
 
The two biggest STEM providers in HE, where STEM students account for more than half of all students, are the:
  • University of Bath; and
  • UWE Bristol
The number of HE STEM achievements in the region has increased by 14% between 2002/03 and 2006/07, slower than the national average.
 
The number of UK-domiciled PhD completers in STEM subjects has fluctuated from year to year, with around 400 achievements per year in the South West. By subject, the largest numbers of PhDs awarded are in Physical and Biological Sciences, with Engineering and Technology a distant third. There have been relatively few achievements in Mathematical and Computer Science, although there have been increasing numbers in the latter over the last two years.
 
The Universities of Bristol and Bath accounted for nearly three-quarters of all STEM PhDs awarded in 2006/07.For more information click here to download a pdf Schools and colleges in the South West including results tables and stats.